Summary
- Ken Levine reflects on the closure of Irrational Games after the success of BioShock Infinite, describing the decision as "complicated."
- Levine was surprised by the studio's closure, stating, "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company."
- Anticipation grows for BioShock 4, with speculation it might feature an open-world setting, drawing lessons from BioShock Infinite's release.
BioShock Infinite director Ken Levine has shared insights into the unexpected closure of Irrational Games, a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive, and provided a reflective account of the studio's termination, which came as a surprise to many involved. Ken Levine, the creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games with former Looking Glass Studios employees Jonathan Chey and Robert Fermier, led the development of the acclaimed BioShock series, including the original 2007 game, 2013's BioShock Infinite, and the follow-up, BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea.
In 2014, Levine announced the closure of Irrational Games following BioShock Infinite's release. The studio was later rebranded as Ghost Story Games in 2017, continuing as a Take-Two subsidiary. The gaming industry has faced significant challenges in recent years, including layoffs at Riot Games' League of Legends team and Ubisoft's US offices.
In an interview with Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Levine described the closure of Irrational as "complicated." He discussed his personal struggles during the development of Infinite, which influenced his decision to leave the studio, though he hoped it would continue without him. "I thought they were going to continue. But it wasn’t my company," Levine stated, indicating the closure was unexpected for most. Irrational Games was renowned for its contributions to the horror RPG genre with System Shock 2 and its success with BioShock Infinite. However, Levine's personal pressures during Infinite's development led him to step down, admitting, "I don’t think I was in any state to be a good leader."
BioShock Infinite's Ken Levine Explains Why Irrational Games' Closure Came as a Shock
Despite the somber tone of BioShock Infinite, its impact on gamers was profound. Reflecting on its success, Levine suggested that Take-Two could have let Irrational work on a BioShock remake, stating, "That would have been a good title for Irrational to get their head around." Levine aimed to make the layoffs as painless as possible, offering transition packages and continued support to the team.
Fans of the steampunk series eagerly await the next main entry, BioShock 4, announced five years ago by 2K and Cloud Chamber Studios. Although an official release date remains undisclosed, speculation suggests BioShock 4 could feature an open-world setting while maintaining the first-person perspective of its predecessors. Many hope that the new game will incorporate lessons learned from BioShock Infinite's reception.
